![]() Cobb & Co Heritage Trail Bathurst to Bourke by Diane de St. Hilaire Simmonds available from: (click) ![]() A fig tree marks the place where Me Wong lived. ![]() Me Wong's signature in the Palmers Post Office book. | ![]() Tracking the dragon Research into Chinese history in the central west Contents Chinamans Swamp CHINESE ANONYMITYA remarkable feature of the Chinese who came to Australia was their prevalent anonymity. Many withheld their name or became known by an adopted name. There were a number of reasons for this. One reason was the initial erroneous translation of names. Chinese coming predominantly from Secondly the many Chinese who adopted the prefix to their name of Ah or Ar. This wasn’t part of their name but rather an introduction. Through usage it became a formal part of their name. In some cases it has been retained through a number of successive generations and is still part of the surnames today. eg Ah Yook and Ah Sing at A third reason was the Chinese adopted to some degree the slang or nick names that they were given. Names such as Wong, Ching or Jimmy are examples. Me Wong at Palmers Oakey for example probably simply means ‘me the Chinese man’. And fourthly some of the Chinese in giving their names, particularly if it was associated with an issue of law and order may well have given a false name realising that the Europeans didn’t understand the meaning of the name they had been given. An example of this is a Chinese giving the name ‘Bottoms Up’ in Bourke at a raid on a gambling house. This may have been a matter of deception or of ‘saving face’. The combination of all these factors at a time when passports and visas didn’t exist, mistranslations, ‘Ah’ being taken as an actual name, nick names and false names probably means that a large percentage of these Chinese visitors were essentially anonymous. Possibly the only really reliable name giving is that of the Chinese name recorded in Chinese characters on the monuments that have survived in cemeteries. These are however quite scarce. In the central west the total number of thus accurately recorded Chinese names is in the order of 50. Its was important that the correct information be put on the grave stone or memorial because it was this information, their name and origin, that would enable that particular person’s remains to be exhumed for the return journey back to their home in China. This was an important wish and part of the life of these travellers, and something that their Chinese family ensured happened wherever possible. Happily most did return to their country or origin, so they could be laid to rest in their own soil. Ah Wong’s home circa 1925. In the picture Left to Right: Phyliss Ferguson, Duncan Ferguson, his mother Matilda Ferguson, and her husband Duncan Ferguson Snr, and unknown man. Location: Portion 2 Palmer’s Oakey. (Refer map in images). Lithgow Shire. Physical Description Located in the This form relates predominantly to the third site in the Oaky Creek locality Portion 2 : a 2 acre site and the former home site of Ah Wong and Ellen. However very little remains today to mark the site. A large healthy fig tree stands on the site. A number of intermittent streams focus on the portion. The small hut, that was the Wong home was constructed of adzed horizontal timber slabs held in place with daubed mud, and it had a rough bark roof. It is recorded as part in a photograph taken circa 1925 by members of the Important other material evidence of the site and of the other Chinese who lived in the valley exists in the following journals and papers in the private collection of Colin Latham Ferguson of ‘Oaks’ at Palmer’s Oakey, and the descendant of Post Mistress Matilda Ferguson. The principal items in this collection are 1. Registered letters to Palmer’s Oakey Post office from Mitchell’s creek and West Mitchell from 1870 to 1902. 2. A Ledger: Owners of stock on Common. 1881 to 1909 3. Common Roll 1899 to 1908 4. Document of ‘sale of good will to two acres of land’ by Ellen ah Chong to Duncan Ferguson. 5. Chinese Coins. A summary of recorded details per year from the above journals and other papers compiled by Colin Ferguson is as follows: REGISTERED LETTERS 1870. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from Mitchells Creek 12 Ah Lam 1. 1872. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from Mitchells Creek 12. Ah Dun 1. 1873. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from Mitchells Creek 7. Ah Hobb 1 1881 OWNERS OF STOCK ON COMMON. NAME, HORSES: Wy Kied 1, Ah Koo 3, Charley Ah Hann 4 1883. Reg letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from Mitchell’s Creek 5. Ah Man 2. Ah Tin 1. 1887 OWNERS OF STOCK ON COMMON, NAME, HORSES: Sing 1888. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell 7. Ah Man l
1888 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Sing 1890 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES : Ah Ko 1, Sing Wing Jang 2 1891. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell. 7. Ah Lam 1891 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES : Sing Wing Jang 4 1892. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell. 11 letters. Ah Charm -1, Ah Low-1 . 1892 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Sing Wing Jang 3 1893. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell 8 letters. Ah Low-1, Ah Charm-1. 1893 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Sing 1894. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell 10 letters. Chin Choun-1. 1894 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Sing Wing Jang 3 1895 COMMON STOCK OWNERS. NAME, HORSES: Sing Wing Jang 3 1896. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell 18 letters. Ah Charm-1, Ah Bow-1. 1896 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Young Gun 2 1897. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell Ah Bow-1 Ah Charm -1 1897 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Young Gun 2 1898 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Young Gun 2 1899 COMMON ROLL NAME ADDRESS GROUND FOR CLAIM Young Gun Palmer’s Oakey Resident Gardiner Ah Co 1899 COMMON STOCK NAME, HORSES: Young Gunn 1 1902. Registered letters to Palmers Oakey Post Office from West Mitchell 17. Young Gunn. 1902 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: Young Gunn 1 COMMON ROLL 1903-1904 NAME ADDRESS GROUND FOR CLAIM Young Gun Palmers Oakey Resident Gardiner 1903 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES: G Young Gunn 1 1904COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME, HORSES : G Young Gunn 1 COMMON ROLL 1905-1906 NAME ADDRESS GROUND FOR CLAIM George Gunn Storekeeper Resident 1906 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME HORSES CATTLE Young Gun 4 horses 7 cattle 1907 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME HORSES CATTLE Young Gunn 3 horse 10 cattle 1908 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME HORSES CATTLE Young Gunn 2 COMMON ROLL 1908 NAME GROUND FOR CLAIM Me Wong and Emily Wong Gardener 1909 COMMON STOCK OWNERS NAME HORSES CATTLE
1-6-1916 Me Wong sold his 2 acres held by Miners Right to Duncan Ferguson (Snr) and Ellen Ah Chong (who was actually Me Wong’s wife) who sold her 2 acres on the west side of Me Wong’s to Duncan Ferguson. Wong stated he had carried on the business of market gardener on the land. History Gold was found at Palmers Oakey Creek in September 1853 and soon men left Sofala for this new field. A store was set up to provide for their needs, and two hotels opened shortly after[1]. By October 1855 there was a police barracks, a lock-up and a population of several hundred. On It was reported that Chinese worked with a thoroughness far exceeding the Europeans, and therefore won more gold from the tailings than the Europeans. A small community developed there working on the claims abandoned by the Europeans. There never was a purpose built When the Post Office was originally opened it was in the premises owned by Millett (now known as "Nebo") and it remained there until Bower took charge when it was transferred to his premises about 700 metres away. When Bower resigned, the new postmistress Miss Munro bought his premises and the Post Office was moved 200 metres to her parents house where she continued to reside and conduct the office. When Mrs Ferguson was appointed the office was moved to her premises about 1.2 kilometres from its former site. This was to be its last location. Mining must have started again at the end of 1880, as the applicants for the school to be re-opened were predominantly miners. The school was downgraded to a Sluicing continued to be the main form of mining with a few intermittent reef mines being active up until 1899. On It shutdown about the junction of the Palmers Oakey Creek and Turon. In the 1900 Post Office Directory Charles Franks ran the Royal Hotel, and Thomas Franks the local store. John McKinnon, Duncan Ferguson's brother-in-law was the local Postmaster. Another brother-in-law Thomas Southall had been the Postmaster in 1869 noted above, and he also ran a butcher's shop at Palmers Oakey. Matilda Deasey first came to the district as a school teacher, where she met and married Duncan Ferguson. She then became the Post Mistress and later Secretary of the Common Trust. (It was through her diligence in maintaining these records that they are now (2005) the property of her grandson Colin Latham Ferguson.) By 1920 only 60 people lived at Palmers Oakey, and most of these were farmers. Some of the Chinese who had come to the area to seek gold stayed in the valley and settled down to a mixture of vegetable growing and fossicking. Some of their names recorded in the post Office and Common records were Ah Charm, Ah Bar, Ah Wong, (he also called himself Me Wong), Ah Lung, Ah Yuck, G Gunn, Young Gunn, Ah Bow, Ah Co, Chin Choun, Ah Low, Sing Wing Jang.[3] Ah Wong later married Ellen Ballard who became known as Ellen Ah Chong. [4] The presence of the Wongs is mentioned a number of times in the records. In 1908 a trustees meeting for the Common was held at which there were three trustees present and they granted Ah Wong a commoners right The old man must have woke up to what was going on as he invited the boys to lunch next Sunday saying it was Chinaman's New Year, very important, must come. So the boys turned up next Sunday and were served with a meal of rice and stew which they consumed with relish. After the meal Les complimented Charm on the meal and asked what was in the stew, Charm replied "you eat cat". Les made a dash for the door but he did not did not make it and his share of the cat ended up on the floor while Charm screamed with laughter. My Grandmother told me that when screw top jars first became available from the local shop (Franks), Ah Wong bought one with jam in it. Later when asked how he liked the new jars he said "Silly, no get jam out". He had cut a slot in the lid and dug the jam out. The jar was here for years with a cut about '/2 inch by 1 inch. Ah Wong was married to Ellen (nee Ballard) and lived in a hut just below the fig tree on portion 2. My grandmother said a lot of the locals would not have a lot to do with Ellen. She said it was not so much that they looked down on her for marrying a Chinaman but they were jealous of her, because of the way Wong looked after her. Ellen died about 1925. References: 1. Colin Latham Ferguson: Extracts from Common journal, post office and other written records of Palmers Oakey 1870 to 1916 2. Colin Latham Ferguson : Aural history and written notes, 2004 3. Kerrin Cook and Daniel Garvey The Glint of Gold. 1999
Caption: Ledger of Common Stock Owners 1909 showing animals owned by Young Gunn [1] Kerrin Cook and Daniel Garvey The Glint of Gold. 1999 pp 54,55 [2] Colin L Ferguson: Aural history of the district. 2005 [3] ibid Extracted from Post Office and Common Trust records. [4] It seems that some use of the language was in the style of a nick name [5] Colin L Ferguson: Aural history of the district. 2005 CHINAMANS SWAMPLocation : Coolah Tops Description: Open grassland fields with light bushland surrounding in the Coolah Tops National Park. The ‘swamp’ is a water catchment area at the top of Bald Hill creek, and provides good summer grazing and water in a protected environment.
History Shepherding was one of the main occupations for the first Chinese who came to The Chinese coolies as they were called, were seen as a very good alternative to the now dwindling convict labour, being ‘more diligent, more tractable, less discomforting than convicts’[4] On the15th March 1849 Clement Lawless wrote to her sister: This colony will suffer severely this year from the low price of wool last year and lower even this. We can import the celestials for about 10 pounds per head at six pounds per year, and they will be engaged for five years, so that we will be able le to grow wool at a very low rate. Those Chinese who have been brought into this country are found to be most excellent shepherds. The only drawback there is with them is that we don’t understand their dreadful language; but they do every thing by signs most readily. We are going to get a lot of them as soon as possible.’[5] At that time there was famine in much of central and southern The poor wage was supplemented by a ration of basic food supplies; meat flour and tea. Many tried to break their contracts after their arrival for despite their lack of language they were no doubt aware they were being take unfair advantage of. Still it is estimated that hundreds of Chinese did work as shepherds and farm labourers in SA, NSW and Victoria. With the erection of wire fences in the 1860s shepherding in It is exactly into this period from the 1840s to 1860s, that the Chinaman’s Swamp, a safe holding area for flocks of sheep and their shepherds on the Bundella range, now known as Coolah tops, fits. The pastoralists in the valleys around the base of the mountain were known to employ Chinese shepherds. Jones of Turee and Fitzgerald of Tongee had land on the side of Coolah Tops. Robert Fitzgerald was an early pioneer settler in the area and joint owner of Tongy which lay on the southern side of the Coolah Tops. He also held Yarraman Run on the northern escarpment which extended to the headwaters of the These properties were linked with a track for moving stock. In the 1840s it is believed that Fitzgerald drove his flocks of sheep along this path, up the Turee Creek to its headwaters and then passed through William Head’s land, then turning east a little south of the summit of the Fitzgerald employed a number of Chinese shepherds on his Tongy property and its likely that these shepherds grazed stock on a swamp that drains into Bald Hills creek. It has been known as Chinamen’s Swamp for more than 110 years. James Patrick Tuckey who was born at Turill in 1899, with his father William McBeth and ‘Bole’ Randall, drove 4000 sheep from Coolah along the Turee Bridle Trail for six months pasturing near James Traill leased part of the forest on Coolah Tops for grazing purposes. Near Norfolk Island Swamp he purchased a block of 40 acres which was freehold and upon which he built a hut and later some stock yards. Originally James or his workman would camp on the flat when they went there to check on the sheep flocks, but in 1935 he decided to construct a hut for better accommodation. This area served as an out-station of Tuwinga station. Sheep were held up in the swamp area with good shelter, water and grazing just as they a had done for 100 years. Another reminder of the shepherd days in the Coolah Tops is Shepherd’s Peak on the eastern tip of the Coolah Tops National Park which was probably a shepherd’s look out in the 1800’s. Camp on Chinamen’s Swamp –pre. 1935. Photo courtesy of Cecil Traill . Sheep on ‘Tuwinga’ Date and Location unknown but circa 1935. Photo courtesy of Cecil Traill KEYS MARET GARDEN MUDGEE
Location: Lawson Creek flats, and Lue Road Mudgee Description: The Key family ran their market garden along the alluvial flat lands stretching along both sides of the Lawson Creek, close to the town of Today some of this land forms the Orchard Nursery,
History In Mudgee the Keys were well known market gardeners who lived and farmed first on one side of the Lawson Creek and later on the other (southern) side on approximately 12 acres of land , 1 kilometres along William Lawson was the first grantee of the land on which the market gardening took place. Initially its size was a 1000 acres and the property was known as Bumberra. It took its name from a small rising hill to one side of the acreage, which is still known today at Bumberra Hill. The land is close to Mudgee and has the Lawson Creek, named after William Lawson, flowing through it. Hugh Caughey had arrived from The Caughey family rented land to the Key family on the north side of the Lawson creek to market garden. The family lived and worked here and become good friends with the Caughey family. Some time later Hugh Caughey offered and sold 12 acres to the Wah Key and his family, on the other side of the creek, so that they could settle permanently. It was here on the 12 acre lot that the Key family built the house (circa 1946) that still stands today. When growing up all the Key family helped on the farm first as children and later as young adults. Many Mudgee residents remember the ‘Keys girls’ who delivered the fruit and vegetables. The property now called Orchard Nursery now belongs to Michael Dunstan , a direct descendant of Wah Keys and the fourth generations of Keys farming along the Lawson Creek. Reference: Mr Ken Caughey Front: Ross Caughey and Betty Bunett’s daughter Back: Lto R Mabel Keys, (unknown), Valerie Caughey, Percy Keys, Dorris Keys, Barry Keys and Val Wilson. On the farm May 1942. Dorris Wilson (nee Keys) and boy, Ken Clewit.
| Resources: [1] Eileen Maxwell The Story of Gulgong p12 [2] Gulgong Evening Argus
[4] ibid p38
[5] ibid p49
[6] Barbara Hickson Traill’s Hut: for NPWS 2003.
[7] ibid References: 1.Colin Latham Ferguson: Extracts from Common journal, post office and other written records of Palmers Oakey 1870 to 1916 2. Colin Latham Ferguson : Aural history and written notes, 2004 3. Kerrin Cook and Daniel Garvey The Glint of Gold. 1999
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